Swim trainer vest

ABSTRACT

A swim trainer vest comprising a swimmer support handle to hold the child up horizontally in water and instruct the child to perform swim strokes so that a child can become a better swimmer. The swim trainer vest has adjustable safety straps and safety latches to fit the swim trainer vest on children with different body circumferences and weights.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to swimming aids. More particularly, the invention relates to a swimming aid for children that fulfill the dual function of providing buoyancy in water as well as having specialized features to aid in teaching them how to swim.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Swimming to navigate a body of water is an art that can only be learned through proper training and practice. Learning to swim is considered a necessary rite of passage in a child's life to ensure their safety when confronted with a body of water whether in a swimming pool, river, or ocean. However, teaching children how to swim is a more ardent task than teaching adults to swim. To a young child who is used to the shallow water in a bathtub, the depth of water in a swimming pool or other waters requires the use of swimming aids to stay afloat and prevent them from drowning. Many of these swimming aids such as inflatable arm and leg floats get in the way when trying to maneuver the arms and legs to learn the various swimming strokes.

The use of swimming vests and float suits are well known in the art. The primary function of these vests and suits are to keep the body of an adult or child afloat in deep water. The use of swim vests as swim training vests is not well known in the art. The present invention is a swim trainer vest specifically designed to assist in the training of children to become better swimmers. The swim trainer vest of the present invention with its specially designed swim support handle provides an easier and less cumbersome alternative to the common practice of having to hold the child up from above and below their torso's to support their body in the water when trying to teach the child how to swim.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a swimming vest for children that also doubles as a swim training aid that makes the task of teaching young children to swim easier for the adult swim instructor and a pleasant learning experience for the children. The specially constructed sturdy swimmer support handle attached to the back of the swim trainer vest of the present invention allows the adult swim instructor to safely hold the child in the water while teaching the child how to swim.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the swim trainer vest of the invention, has a front panel and a back panel sewn together at the shoulder and side seams leaving an open neck area that snuggly fits about the neck of the child and two armholes for insertion of the child's hands. In this embodiment of the invention, the front panel of the swim trainer vest from the top of the neck area to the bottom of the vest is split into a right panel and a left panel with an opening in the center for easing the body of the child into the vest. In this embodiment of the invention, after the vest is donned by the child, the front right and front left panels of the vest are brought together and securely clasped to the body of the child by means of two safety straps, 1.5 inches wide that originate from the back panel and terminate with safety latches at the front panel. In this embodiment, the safety straps and latches are adjustable to fit different body sizes of children.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a swimmer support handle approximately 10 inches long and 1.5 inches wide constructed of a rigid sturdy material is attached to the back panel of the vest bridging the safety straps in the back panel. In this exemplary embodiment of the invention, the swimmer support handle is used to lift up the child wearing the swim trainer vest and hold the child at the correct height and alignment in the water while instructing and teaching the child to perform the various swim strokes.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the swim trainer vest of the invention has an additional long safety strap of approximately 1.5 inches wide that traverses from the back to the front through the crotch area between the legs of the child and latches at the front for additional vest support.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the swim trainer vest is constructed of a buoyant material and the swim trainer handle constructed of a rigid and sturdy material capable of supporting the weight of young children of various body weights.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to one skilled in the art when viewed in conjunction with the drawings, detailed description of the invention and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional side view of the swim trainer vest with the swimmer support handle attached to the back panel of the vest.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the back panel of the swim trainer vest.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the front panel of the swim trainer vest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an improvement over prior art swim training aids for children. The exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a sturdy swimmer support handle rigidly attached to the back of a child's swim vest to allow an adult swimming instructor to lift and hold the child in water in a horizontal position while the child practices swimming strokes using both hands and feet. The swimmer support handle on the swim vest alleviates the need for the instructor to support the body of the child from above and below their torso's while the child practices the various swim strokes. This allows for a less stressful and pleasant experience for the child attempting to learn swimming.

Referring now to the figures, more particularly to FIG. 1, the swimmer support handle 20 is seen rigidly attached to the back panel 10B of the swim trainer vest 10 through its top end, 20A and bottom end, 20B. A long safety strap 12 traverses from the back panel 10B to the front panel 10A between the child's legs and latches in the front to provide additional vest support. Two safety straps 11A and 11B with safety latches are dispensed from the back panel 10B to the front panel 10A to secure the swim trainer vest 10 to the body of the child. In this exemplary embodiment of the swim trainer vest 10, the swimmer support handle 20 is used to hold the child up horizontally in water by an adult swim instructor to allow the child to practice the various swim strokes.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the back panel 10B of the swim trainer vest 10 of the present invention. The swimmer support handle 20 is attached at the top end 20A and bottom end 20B to the back panel 10B of the swim trainer vest 10. Safety straps, 11A and 11B extend from the back panel 10B to the front panel 10A. A long safety strap 12 extends from the back to the front between the legs of the child and latches in the front of the vest 10 to provide additional vest support.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the front panel 10A of the swim trainer vest 10 of the present invention. The safety straps with safety latches, 11A and 11B are adjustable and extend from the back panel 10B to the front panel 10A to secure the body of the child to the swim trainer vest 10. The long safety strap 12 can be seen traversing from the back to the front of the swim trainer vest 10.

The foregoing description of the swim trainer vest of the present invention through its embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention. It should be understood and obvious to one skilled in the art that the embodiments of the invention thus described may be further modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. 

1. A swim trainer vest comprising: a front panel; a back panel; a swimmer support handle; two safety straps with safety latches; and a long safety strap to provide additional vest support.
 2. The swim trainer vest of claim 1 wherein the swimmer support handle is rigidly attached to the back panel of the swim trainer vest through its top and bottom ends.
 3. The swim trainer vest of claim 1 wherein the two safety straps are attached to the back panel and brought to the front panel to secure the vest to the body of the child by means of the safety latches.
 4. The swim trainer vest of claim 1 wherein the safety straps and safety latches are adjustable to fit the swim trainer vest on the bodies of children of different body circumferences and weights.
 5. The swim trainer vest of claim 1 wherein the long safety strap traverses from the back panel to the front panel of the swim trainer vest through the legs of the child and is latched to the front panel to provide additional vest support.
 6. The swim trainer vest of claim 1 wherein the swim trainer vest is made of buoyant material.
 7. The swim trainer vest of claim 1 wherein the swimmer support handle is constructed from a rigid and sturdy material.
 8. A method of training a child to swim, the method comprising: having the child wear the swim trainer vest; holding the swim trainer vest by the swimmer support handle; and instructing the child to perform swim strokes. 